The only way to fully appreciate the dazzling “after” pictures soon to come, is to have a peak at a “before”.

This is the workshop where the Fobots are created. It started out as an exercise room, before we came to the realization that we both exercise harder when in a group setting, and joined the YMCA up the street. For a long while, it was “The Room of Shame”–the room where things were unceremoniously dumped, rather that put away or moved to the basement where they would have quickly become covered in mold and mildew. When the bot business grew too big for the ironing board in the laundry room (where we ever that small?) it moved to this room and quickly took over all available floor, wall and shelf space. Not that there was much to begin with (space, that is), and the mauve walls were really better off covered. I mean really, nothing says “late eighties” quite like mauve walls.

And I probably could have continued like this indefinitely. Business has been booming, and to do a total room makeover without the aid of one of those reality TV shows would have meant a serious delay in production. But then I got the email.

Ages ago, I’d met someone from Stampington, a magazine publishing group. From their website: “With 30 diverse art and crafting titles, Stampington & Company is your source for creative inspiration! From paper-crafting and mixed-media art to doll-making and art-to-wear, our family of publications explores a broad range of artistic media.”And now they’re publishing a new magazine called “Where Women Create”, and want to photograph my studio! Notice I said studio, not workshop. My studio is actually in pretty decent shape. Well, it would be–I’m hardly in it any more. But the workshop is where it’s happening lately, and I really wanted that to be included. So for the last five days, and with the help of my dear friend Greg Moore, who wields a mean paint roller, the Fobotorium (Fobotery?) is being organized and transformed beyond recognition. When the photographer arrives on Thursday, not only will you be able to walk on the floor without the need for a bulldozer or tetanus shot, but I’ll have everything organized so that I can actually find it and it will look fabulous! It’ll be robot heaven.

Of course, the overflow has all gone into the guest room, which now looks much like the above picture. Don’t come stay overnight for a while.

My daughter and I recently had our craft spaces featured in http://www.craftzine.com Prior to the pictures being taken, she did a month long series on her blog about cleaning and organizing her craft studio (she makes jewelry-lots of little things on the floor). When I looked at your before pictures, I recognized her “before” space only at your house. When things get that bad, you spend all your time looking for stuff rather than creating. I don’t come by organization naturally either. Isn’t it nice for everything to be picked up and organized? Your studio looks great.
I am a great fan of yours. My neighbor found your Fobots on the Antropology website and we both just fell in love with them. I know you will continue to have great success!

Thanks so much, Fredda. I think the three weeks I spent gutting and renovating that room were well spent. I still have to spend a lot of time looking for stuff, but only if I didn’t put it away in the right spot!